Cary puts bounty on old toilets

Cary, N.C. — Town officials said Tuesday they would pay $60,000 to take hundreds of older toilets out of service in Cary and Morrisville so they can be replaced by water-saving commodes.

“As a community that has long been on the forefront of water conservation, we are pleased to begin implementing this new program as one more way our citizens can continue our successful culture of conservation,” water conservation coordinator Marie Cefalo said in a statement.

The town will pay $150 rebates for customers who buy high-efficiency toilets to replace older models. Older toilets use 3.5 to 5 gallons of water per flush, while the high-efficiency ones use 1.28 gallons, officials said.

The rebates will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 400 high-efficiency toilets purchased. Families can claim up to three rebates, while commercial property owners can claim up to five.

“In Cary, we’ve found that our greatest source of indoor water usage comes from toilets. So, if 400 toilets per year are replaced, the town could save an estimated 2.6 million to 4 million gallons of water per year,” Cefalo said.

The prices of high efficiency toilets are comparable in price to regular toilets, beginning at $119.

To apply for a rebate, customers must mail a completed application and attach the original receipt dated on or after June 3. A town inspector would visit the home or other property to verify the new toilet has been installed before officials issue a rebate check.